sting?" asked Bumpus, earnestly.

The other fellows wanted to laugh, but to their credit be it said that
they restrained this feeling. It would be heartless, with poor Bumpus
looking so badly.

"Oh! don't get that notion into your head," said the young leader; for
as assistant scout-master, in the absence of Dr. Philander, Thad was
supposed to take charge of the troop, and assume all his duties; "here,
fellows, bring him along back to the spring. I've got something in my
haversack the doctor gave me, that ought to help Bumpus."

"Was it meant for ant bites, Thad, do you know?" asked the victim, as he
allowed his comrades to urge him along slowly; while he rubbed, first
one part of his person, and then another, as the various swellings stung
in succession.

"Well, he really said it was to be used in case any of us got scratched
by a wild animal, and there was danger of poisoning; but it strikes me
it would be a good antiseptic, he called it, in this case."

Having reached the spot where Bob White still faithfully stood guard
over their few belongings, Thad hurriedly threw open his bundle, and
took out a little package carefully wrapped up. It contained rolls of
soft white linen to be used for bandages in case of need; adhesive
plaster, also in small rolls; and a few common remedies such as camphor,
arnica, and the like, intended for ailments boys may invite when
overeating, or partaking too freely of green apples.

"Here it is," he remarked, holding up a small bottle.

"How purple it looks," observed Davy Jones, curiously; "and what's this
on the label, here. 'Permaganate of Potash, No. 6; to be painted on the
scratch; and used several times if necessary.' That's Doc. Philander's
writing, sure."

"It looks pretty tough," commented Giraffe.

"The remedy is sometimes worse than the disease, they say," remarked
Smithy.

"You don't think it'll hurt much, do you, Thad?" asked the victim,
trying to smile, but unable, on account of his swollen cheeks.

"Not a bit, I understand," came the reassuring reply. "Besides, I should
think that you wouldn't hold back, even if it did, Bumpus. You're in a
bad way, and I've just got to counteract that poison before your eyes
close up."

"Go on, use the whole bottle if you want to," urged the alarmed boy.

"The only bad thing about it is that this stuff stains like fun, and
you'll be apt to look like a wild Indian for a day or two," Thad
observed, as he started to apply the p